Lighting fixture



J. DALTON, JR

Jan. 6, 1970 LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-.Sheet 1 FIG JOHN DALToN JR.`

INVENTOR.

ATToRN Filed June'l', 1966 Jan. 6, 1970 J. www, JR l3,4s1n4s7 u LIGHTINGFIXTURE Filed June 17, 1966 a sheets-sneer 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY f JOHN'DVALTON JR.

United States Patent U.S. Cl. 24W-51.11 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A fluorescent lighting fixture having an elongatedrectangular channel, a reflector secured to the channel, fluorescentlamps disposed within the reflector, and a vertically adjustable supportassembly at each end of the fixture. The vertically adjustable supportassembly is made up of a pair of spaced parallel screws having a pair ofspring loaded toggles mounted thereon which are adjustable along avertical plane. When the lighting fixture is inserted into a ceilingcoffer, the spring loaded toggles are first deflected by opposed pairsof bolts projecting from the end walls of the coffer, and subsequentlybiased to their normal near-horizontal position to thereby engage thebolts and support the lamp in the coer.

This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly tostructural features thereof which facilitate and expedite theirinstallation.

Structural features of a lighting fixture, and particularly thosefeatures relating to the means provided for hanging or supporting thefixture are significant factors contributing to the initial installationcosts and the subsequent maintenance expenses. Since fluorescent lampsare linear light sources, the installation of fluorescent lightingfixtures usually requires the services of two men and the use of severaltools.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a fluorescentlighting fixture characterized by structural features which enable theinstallation to be made by one man using a single tool.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described below, the particular applicationinvolves the installation of fluorescent lighting fixtures in recessesor coffers which characterize the ceiling of the room or area to beilluminated. Each end of the lighting fixture is provided with a pair ofspring-loaded metal toggles, each toggle being affixed by means of atrunnion nut to a vertically disposed screw held in a fixed verticalposition by a bracket mounted on and extending from the end of thelighting fixture channel. Each end wall of' each ceiling coffer has apair of bolts seated therein and extending into the lighting fixturechamber defined by the coffer. These bolts lie in the path of thetoggles which are deflected thereby as the lighting fixture is movedinto position. When the lighting fixture has been inserted into itscoller far enough for the toggles to have moved past the bolts, thetoggles spring back to their normal, substantially horizontaldisposition and the fixture is then lowered so that it is supported onthe bolts through the toggles.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, FIGURE l is a fragmentary, side elevational viewof one end of a lighting fixture of this invention, installed in aceiling coller. .f

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary end perspective view, viewed from below, of alighting fixture embodying the features of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the lighting fixture of FIGURE 2showing the disposition of the tog- 70 gles thereof as the fixture ismoving past the coffer bolts. i FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view ofthe lighting ice fixture of FIGURE 2 showing the fixture in itsinstalled position with the toggles bearing on the coffer bolts tothereby support the fixture.

The lighting fixture illustrated in the accompanying drawings anddescribed below is similar in many respects to conventional fluorescentlighting fixtures in that it cornprises a channel 2, a reflector 4 and alouver 6. The channel 2 houses the electrical apparatus normallyemployed in fluorescent lighting fixtures. Fluorescent lamps 8 aresupported in lampholders 10 attached to and depending from the channel 2at the ends thereof. The reflector 4 and the louver l6 are both attachedto and supported by Athe channel 2, the reflector 4 overlying the lamps8 and the louver 6 being disposed therebeneath.

Each end of channel 2 is recessed to provide for flush seating thereinof a bracket 12 which projects beyond the end of the channel andsupports a pair of screws 14 depending therefrom. Toggles 16, loaded byand connected to one another by spring 18, are secured to the screws 14by trunnion nuts. ln their normal rest position, the toggles 16 aredisposed as shown in FIG. 2.

As noted above, the particular application involves the installation offluorescent lighting fixtures in recesses or coffers which characterizethe ceiling of the room or area to be illuminated. One end wall of aconcrete coffer 20 is shown in FIG. 1. Each end wall of each coffer 20has a pair of ram-set bolts 22 projecting therefrom and into the fixturechamber 21 defined by the coffer 20. These bolts are located so thatthey will be disposed in cooperative relationship with respect to thetoggles 16 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As noted above, one of the features of this fixture is that it can beinstalled by one man working with one tool, a screw-driver. Installationof the fixture is effected by lifting it up and inserting it into thefixture chamber 21 defined by the coller 20. During insertion of thefixture into the chamber, it will be noted that the bolts 22 lie in thepath of the toggles 16 and cause their deflection from the FIG. 2 to theFIG. 3 disposition. However, when the fixture has been inserted deeplyenough into its chamber so that the toggles 16 have cleared the bolts22, then the spring 18, loaded by the deflection just described, willreturn the toggles to their normal near-horizontal position.

The fixture is then lowered until the toggles rest on the bolts as shownin FIG. 4 and thus support the fixture in position in its chamber 21 inthe coller 20.

To this point, the fixture has been installed by one man without the useof any tools. With the aid of a screwdriver, the installer can nowadjust the vertical position of the fixture in its chamber by turning upor turning down the screws 14 on which the toggles are supported. Thus,in terms of a final adjustment, the fixture can be raised, lowered ortilted within the limits of the length of the screws and the overallclearance of the fixture within the chamber 21.

With the fixture now located within the chamber 21 and its positiontherein adjusted as just described, it is now locked in position. Hereagain, the only tool needed is a screwdriver. A locking screw 24 extendsthrough a bracket 26 at each end of the fixture. Thus, as shown in FIG.l, the locking screw 24 is turned down until it is brought to bear in abinding manner against the end wall of the coffer 20. When this is doneat each end of the fixture, the fixture is then locked in position.

In view of the foregoing, it will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art that the lighting fixture of this invention facilitates andexpedites the fixture installation task because it makes it possible forone man to install, adjust and lock the fixture in position with the aidof but one hand tool, viz, a screwdriver.

While there has been shown and described what is at present consideredthe preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein Without departing from the invention as dened by the appendedclaims'.

What I claim is:

1. A fluorescent lighting xture comprising: an elongated, substantiallyrectangular channel; a reflector secured to said channel; fluorescentlamps disposed `within said reector and supported from said channel; abracket secured to said channel at each end thereof and extendingtherebeyond; and means, depending from said bracket, for supporting saidlixture, said means comprising a pair of elongated, spaced,substantially parallel screws and a pair of spring-loaded togglesmounted on said screws.

2. In combination: a ceiling coiffer having walls dening a chamber; apair of spaced projections on each of the end walls of said Colfer andextending into said chamber; and a iluorescent lighting fixture disposedin said chamber, said lighting fixture having support means dependingtherefrom at the ends thereof and resting on said projections.

r NORTON ANSHER,

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said projections are bolts andthe fixture supporting means comprises a pair of elongated, spaced,substantially parallel screws and a pair of spring-loaded togglesmounted on said screws.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner FRED L. BRAUN,Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

